Apparatus for removing standing water

ABSTRACT

A manually-operated, self-contained apparatus for removing standing water from an athletic field.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/342,046 filed Apr. 8, 2010, which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus for removing standing water. Moreparticularly, it is a manually-operated, self-contained apparatus forremoving standing water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Not infrequently, when people gather to play sports outdoors, such asbaseball, softball, football and soccer, they find standing water on theathletic field on which they would like to play. The standing water cancome from rain, particularly in the spring and fall, and sprinklersystems, particularly in the summer. Many times these fields are notnear any electrical service.

The standing water can be removed using a pail, but a pail is generallynot available as it is bulky and not generally included in the athleticequipment brought to the athletic field. Other devices in the prior art,such as the “super-sopper” 10 shown in FIG. 1, are less bulky but arenot self-contained. One end 11 of the super sopper pump is placed in apuddle. The end 12 of the piston 13 extending out of the other end 14 ofthe pump is pulled away from the other end 14 of the pump, causing waterto be first pulled into the body 15 of the pump and then expelled outthe faucet 16 attached to the body 15 of the pump. This device requiresa hose to be attached to the faucet 16 or a bucket into which to pumpthe water being expelled out the faucet 16.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide an apparatus forremoving standing water from athletic fields that is manually-operatedand self-contained. It is a further purpose to provide such an apparatusthat is lightweight and not bulky so that it can be stored with, andcarried with, the athletic equipment brought to the athletic field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bebetter understood by reading the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments, taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a pump of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, and;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away drawing of the embodiment of the present inventionshown in FIG. 2.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a manually-operated, self-contained apparatusfor removing standing water. A preferred embodiment of the invention isshown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

This embodiment comprises a tube 19 with a first end 20, a second end21, and a diameter 23. The tube 19 is preferably constructed of a rigid,lightweight material such as polystyrene plastic or other material knownto those skilled in the art. The first end 20 has an opening 22 smallerthan the diameter 23 of the tube 19. A screen 24 is placed over thefirst end 20 to keep mud or gravel from being drawn into the tube 19.

A plunger 30 has a first end 31 in the tube 19 and a second end 32extending out the second end 21 of the tube 19. The first end 31 isconnected to a plunger head 34 that forms a water-tight seal with theinner wall 35 of the tube 19. The second end 32 of the plunger isattached to a handle 33.

In operation, the first end 20 of the tube 19 is placed in a puddle ofstanding water, the second end 32 of the plunger 30 is pulled away fromthe second end 21 of the tube 19, causing water 40 to be drawn into thetube 19. The tube 19 is then carried to another location and the secondend 32 of the plunger 30 is pressed toward the second end 21 of thetube, causing water to be expelled from the first end 20 of the tube 19.This process is repeated until the standing water in the puddle issubstantially removed.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it isto be understood by those skilled in the art that this description ismade only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope ofthe invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope ofthe present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown anddescribed herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinaryskill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention.

1. An apparatus for removing standing water comprising: a tube with aninner wall and a first end and a second end; an opening in the first endof the tube over which a screen is placed; a plunger with a first end inthe tube and a second end extending out of the second end of the tube; aplunger head connected to the first end of the plunger, which plungerhead forms a water-tight seal with the inner wall of the tube; and ahandle connected to the second end of the plunger.